According to reports, an agreement between Barcelona and Manchester City for Bernardo Silva has been reached, raising questions over Frenkie de Jong's future. Due to financial constraints, Barcelona may now be compelled to unload the Dutchman given the strong links between Chelsea and Manchester United.
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Man City, has recently refused to rule out the possibility that Bernardo will leave the team. The Portuguese manager's team at the Etihad is not complete without them, but the player is rumoured to be interested in moving to the Camp Nou following five successful seasons in the Premier League.
Many presumed Barca’s transfer business to be done after splashing out on Jules Kounde, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski. But president Joan Laporta refuses to rest up and transfer expert Gerard Romero claims that they have agreed a fee of less than £67million for Bernardo.
The 27-year-old’s prospective exit would come as a major blow to City after scoring 13 goals in 50 appearances last term, providing relentless energy and technical ability in the middle of the park.
Although Bernardo generally plays further forward than De Jong, his skill set is not dissimilar to the Dutchman which suggests that Barca could be about to cut ties. Laporta has publicly stated that the club would be keen for him to stay, but reports indicate that they are furiously trying to decrease his wages behind the scenes.
Relevo claim that, during a phone call with Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly, De Jong stated that his preference is still to stay with Barcelona – the club he ‘dreamed’ of playing for as a child. But a swoop for Bernardo could be the final nail in the coffin for the 25-year-old midfielder, who has plenty of high-profile admirers in the Premier League.